Do electric scooters need to be registered?

Do electric scooters need to be registered?

If an electric scooter is designed as a road vehicle then it has to follow all the same rules as a petrol scooter. This means having the same level of training, and obtaining the same documentation. However, one advantage over petrol scooters is that they're exempt from road tax, although you still need to display a valid tax disc.

The Go scooter

Our Go scooter is completely electric, and runs on a large, rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It has a top speed of 30mph and follows the same legal classification as a 50cc petrol scooter. This means you need valid insurance, and after 3 years, an annual MOT certificate.

As with all new road vehicles, the Go scooter still needs to be registered with the DVLA once you buy it. It needs to be registered in order for its licence plate to be validated, which is one of the main rules for putting a vehicle on the road. The DVLA needs to hold information on who owns the vehicle so this can be accessible by the police and insurance companies.

To make the process easier for you, we supply a registration pack in the post. Once it arrives, simply fill in your details and send it off to the DVLA. The registration fee is currently £55, and you'll need to send in copies of various documents too.

The M488 folding electric scooter

The M488 isn't legally allowed on public roads due to its low power engine and low maximum speed. It's restricted to 15mph, and so would be dangerous to use on a public highway. This means you can only use it on private land, but it makes an amazing toy.

Because it's not classed as a road vehicle you won't need to have it registered. It's technically a PLEV (personal light electric vehicle) and so is exempt from road rules. This means you don't need to have any kind of driving licence, tax, or insurance for it. You can also start riding the M488 at 14, two years younger than a proper electric or petrol scooter.

Although electric scooters are exempt from road tax they still follow all the other rules of the road. This means having valid insurance, and registering the scooter with the DVLA. Luckily, this process is very easy and we supply a full registration pack to make it even easier. You'll only need to do this once too, and then you won't need to worry about it again.